NEW RELEASES
(Received February 25-March 24)
BATTEN FAMILY
2010
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
BIBB CITY RAMBLERS
No Label, 2010 (compact disc)
KATHY BOYD & PHOENIX RISING
WALK HUMBLY
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
CALIFORNIA RAMBLERS
LOOKING BACK
No Label, TCR 0012010 (compact disc)
LILLY DRUMEVA
LOVIN’ YOU
No Label, MK No 54604 (compact disc)
CHAD FADELY
IMANDO
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
FIDDLE: ONE WOMAN, FOUR STRINGS, AND 8,000 MILES OF MUSIC
BY VIVIAN WAGNER
Citadel Press 9780806531229 (book)
DAVID GRINDSTAFF
HERE & NOW
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
HAMMER & STRING
THE GIRL WHO BROKE MY HEART
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
SIERRA HULL
SECRETS SONGS & TUNES
AcuTab Videos (DVD)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS
THINGS THAT FLY
Sugar Hill SUGCD4059 (compact disc)
MARK JOHNSON & EMORY LESTER
ACOUSTIC VISION
Bangtown Records BANG CD 005 (compact disc)
KENTUCKY’S BLUEGRASS MUSIC
BY JAMES C. CLAYPOOL
Arcadia Publishing 9780738585611 (book)
DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER
LIGHT ON MY FEET, READY TO FLY
Horizon Records HR12762 (compact disc)
MEL BAY PRESENTS: FLATPICKING UP THE NECK
BY JEFF TROXEL
Mel Bay MB21818BCD (book/compact disc)
MEL BAY PRESENTS: THE MANDOLIN PICKER’S GUIDE TO BLUEGRASS IMPROVISATION
BY JESPER RUBNER-PETERSEN
Mel Bay MB22086BCD (book/compact disc)
RED MOLLY
JAMES
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
SNYDER FAMILY BAND
COMIN’ ON STRONG
Mountain Roads MRR1009 (compact disc)
STEEL WHEELS
RED WING
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
SUMMERTOWN ROAD
Rounder Records 1166106462 (compact disc)
GEORGE THOMAS
HEAVEN ON MY MIND
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
TWILITE BROADCASTERS
EVENING SHADE
No Label, No Number (compact disc)
VARIOUS ARTISTS
JUBILEE: A CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN MUSIC (BEST OF RENFRO VALLEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL)
Kentucky Educational Television (DVD)
ADDITIONAL RELEASES
By Les McIntyre
JIMMY COX & FRIENDS
BACK HOME MEMORIES
No Label, No Number.
There is little information accompanying this all instrumental presentation of gospel tunes. While the performances are adequate, the recording quality is not up to the standards expected in a credible bluegrass recording. The song list presents no real surprises and includes familiar titles such as “Old Time Religion,” “How Great Thou Art,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “Little White Church.” In addition, no composer credits are provided. As a result, Back Home Memories is an amateurish production with regional interest. (5-String Music Studio, 4 Garden Ln., Topsham, ME 04086.)
WONDER
No Label, No Number.
Wonder is a quartet of musicians in Rockbridge County, Virginia, who have been playing acoustic music for several years. Although their instrumentation is mostly standard bluegrass (along with the occasional harmonica), their vocal harmonies are more akin to another Virginia group, the Statler Brothers. In fact, the song lineup of this latest disc includes a pair of Statler Brothers favorites, “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine” and “More Than A Name On The Wall.” The other 12 entries are an eclectic mix of gospel numbers and pop genre oldies including “Do Your Know Where You’re Bound,” “Medals For Mothers,” The Temptations’ “My Girl,” “Softly & Tenderly,” Sonny James’ “Young Love,” The Platters’ “The Great Pretender,” and “Nearer My God To Thee.” Wonder has amassed a strange assortment of melodies that should find an audience with those who follow the group’s music. (Wonder, 667 S. Lee Hwy., Lexington, VA 24450, www.wondergospelgroup.com.)
THE SUGGINS BROTHERS
NUMBER SEVEN
No Label, No Number.
Number Seven is an appropriately titled project in that it’s the seventh release from Georgia’s Suggins Brothers. Ironically, no one in the quartet is named Suggins. They are Mike Gibbs (guitar), Jim Major (mandolin), Ken Clark (banjo) and Ronnie Davis (bass). The 14 selections are well-executed renditions of bluegrass stalwarts such as “Fox On The Run,” “Gonna Paint The Town,” “Sing Me Back Home,” and others. Of special note are the band’s treatment of John Fogerty’s “Looking Out My Back Door” and the Bill Monroe instrumental “Come Hither To Go Yonder.” Anyone who has heard other recordings by the Suggins Brothers should find something to peak their curiosity in their latest recording. (Suggins Brothers, P.O. Box 4481, Macon, GA 31208, www.sugginsbrothers.com.)
BOOK
LOUISIANA BLUEGRASS: THE EARLY YEARS
BY RON YULE
Fiddle Country Publishing 9780978735852. (Fiddle Country Publishing, P.O. Box 819, DeRidder, LA 70634, www.ronyule.com.)
LOUISIANA FIDDLERS
BY RON YULE
Univ. Press Of Mississippi 9781604732955. (University Press of Miss., 3825 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 29211, www.upress.state.ms.us.)
Ron Yule is an accomplished fiddler, festival promoter, and author who has penned several books on Louisiana fiddling. These most recent works prove to be treasure troves about bluegrass music and fiddlers of the Pelican State. Louisiana Bluegrass The Early Years is a 217-page hardbound book chronicling the history of Louisiana bluegrass from the 1930s through the mid-’80s. Profiled are a vast number of bands and individual musicians including Buzz Busby, the Cox Family, the Whitstein Brothers, the Louisiana Honeydrippers, and many others. Extra features include a 25-page section of photographs along with a discography of bluegrass recordings. Louisiana Fiddlers is an overview of 62 fiddlers from various genres including bluegrass, country, western swing, Cajun, and Zydeco. Profiled are artists Harry Choates, Dewey Balfa, Doug Kershaw, Douglas “Dobber” Johnson, Michael Doucet, and many others. Both publications are well-written and offer a wealth of information concerning the origins of Louisiana bluegrass and the many fiddlers who have dominated the region.